John lives alone after the slow and tragic death of his wife, Alice, who was sick from a mysterious disease the doctors couldn't identify in time. His only companion is his beloved cat, Slinky. When John sees Slinky sprint through the cat door, terrified, he starts to worry. Although the cat seemed to be running from something, John doesn't know what. He recalls a night he saw four injured cats tear a fox to pieces and can't sleep properly for his fear. The following night, John is horrified to discover Slinky's mutilated body in a tree, all the contents removed and the skin licked clean. He brings the remains to the vet, who tells him she can't imagine what predator could do such a thing. When John returns home the following night, he hears a noise and quickly investigates. He discovers four cats circling a fox, frozen and unable to act as they tear it to pieces. Next, his dead wife appears. Her head ruptures and out crawls a tiny version of himself. John embraces the monstrous creature and, as he feels it swelling and growing in his arms, discovers the emptiness within him finally filled.